Weapon system modification directed to short stroke piston assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved weapon system modification directed to short stroke piston assemblies comprising: a housing having an inlet port for receiving gas from a barrel, a piston chamber and a piston contained within the chamber that, when actuated by gas, moves rearward toward a chamber contacting a bolt carrier and cycling the action; a front seating ring for receiving a front sleeve; a rear seating ring for receiving a rear sleeve; a barrel extending through the front sleeve, housing and rear sleeve defining one or more voids between the front sleeve, housing and rear sleeve and the barrel; filler material deposited and/or disposed in the void(s) that when cured or hardened, results in a barrel assembly dissipating heat and improving accuracy; a receiver plate included in the housing for attaching the housing to a receiver; a receiver block included in the housing for attaching the housing to the receiver; and, a lower track that can be attached to the housing and a barrel locking collar.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a weapon system having a barrel and more particularly to a gas operated weapon system with a short stroke gas piston assembly with rotating bolt. This invention is directed to the construction of a weapon having a barrel and method of modification providing a multi-component barrel design for reducing heat and harmonics resulting in improved accuracy. The improved gas management system is combined with the modified gun barrel of the present invention to reduce barrel flex and harmonics while providing for adjustable gas return levels in the tube for improved accuracy and control.

BACKGROUND

It has been long understood that a rifle's barrel changes shape and moves in multiple directions every time the rifle is fired. This effect is also found in shotgun and cannon barrels. In some instances, this movement of the barrel has been coined “barrel whip” and occurs when a weighted object (bullet) travels down the tubular barrel under intense gas pressure generally defined as when the barrel moves away from its “static” state. Barrel whip can occur when the bullet accelerates into a rapid spin, when the stock drops significantly so the muzzle rises when the rifle is fired, or when a pressure wave travels the length of the barrel. In the case of shotguns and unrifled cannon barrels, the “barrel whip” largely results from the pressure wave traveling along the barrel.

Barrel whip reduces the accuracy of the projectile expelled from the barrel and, therefore, the ability of a shooter to hit a target. Historically, manufacturers of barrels have simply accepted that the barrel's movement can't be eliminated. The remedy was to manufacture the barrel so that at least the movement was consistent with each shot. With a combination of cartridge loads and a consistently moving barrel whip, a rifle can be made more accurate by matching the load with the barrel. However, this requires that cartridge loads be customized to match each individual barrel and requires a high degree of customization.

Further, with each shot, the chamber can swell and produce an annular wave that travels between the muzzle and the breech. As the annular wave travels down the barrel, the bore diameter changes slightly as a result of the wave. If the bullet exits the barrel coincidentally with the wave at the muzzle, the bullet accuracy is greatly reduced since the bore and the bullet will be ejected through a bore that is made larger due to the wave. Traditional attempts to avoid this problem have been to change the cartridge load so that the bullet does not exit the barrel when the annular wave is at the muzzle. Again, this involves a high degree of customization and requires that cartridge loads match each individual barrel.

Further, as rounds are shot through a barrel, the barrel heats and the metal expands, becomes more flexible, and, therefore, the effect of barrel whip and any annular waves increases. Some tests have found that the center of the bore can change as much as 0.001 inches between the barrel temperatures of 77° F. (ambient) and 122° F. While the number of rounds that it takes to heat a barrel from ambient to over 120° F. varies greatly with the type of round, the type of barrel and other factors, such temperature changes can occur in as little as four or five rounds. Therefore, for multiple shots, the heat generated by the shots can adversely affect the accuracy of the barrel.

An additional problem arises in weapon systems that utilize gas return mechanisms to capture escaping gas from the barrel and redirect the gas into the action to cycle the bolt for filing the next round. Some of these problems are a result from gas being blown back into the action causing fouling of the action. Attempts have been made to eliminate the need for gas to be directed into the action such as with a short stroke gas piston assembly which includes a piston assembly that contacts the bolt carrier assembly. As a bullet is fired down the barrel, gas is forced into a piston assembly, moving the piston rearward which in turn moves the bolt carrier assembly rearward to eject the empty casing and cycle a live round into the chamber. In current designs, however, every shot causes an impact to occur between the piston and the bolt assembly which creates barrel harmonics that can effect accuracy. These harmonics can create additional harmonics that interact with the barrel whip described above. Thus, an additional loss of accuracy is suffered in these piston weapon systems. Further, the piston and the bolt carrier assembly can cause tilt. When the piston is pressurized, the bolt carrier is pushed rearward along the long axis of the barrel. Therefore, the carrier attempts to tilt upwards and is only restrained from moving in this direction by the guide rod, buffer tube or other internal structures.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a weapons system that was manufactured or modified to reduce the effects of barrel whip, and barrel harmonics by the piston and bolt assembly and interaction when firing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a control mechanism to adjust the flow of gas return to the action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is accomplished by providing an improved weapon system modification directed to short stroke piston assemblies comprising: a housing having an inlet port for receiving gas from a barrel, a piston chamber and a piston contained within the chamber that, when actuated by gas, moves rearward toward a chamber contacting a bolt carrier and cycling the action; a front seating ring for receiving a front sleeve; a rear seating ring for receiving a rear sleeve; a barrel extending through the front sleeve, housing and rear sleeve defining one or more voids between the front sleeve, housing and rear sleeve and the barrel; filler material deposited and/or disposed in the void(s) that when cured or hardened, results in a barrel assembly dissipating heat and improving accuracy; a receiver plate included in the housing for attaching the housing to a receiver; a receiver block included in the housing for attaching the housing to the receiver; and, a lower take that can be attached to the housing and a barrel locking collar.

The weapon system can include a housing having a housing bore configured to receive a barrel and having a piston chamber configured to receive a gas piston; a receiver plate attached to the housing; a receiver block attached to the housing; a forward seating ring attached to the housing; a forward sleeve attached to the forward seating ring; a forward void defined between the barrel and the forward sleeve; a rear seating ring attached to the housing; a rear sleeve attached to the rear seating ring and disposed between the housing and a barrel locking collar; a rear void defined by the barrel and the rear sleeve; and, a filler material disposed in the forward void and the rear void.

The weapon system can include a housing void defined between the forward seating ring, the rear seating ring and the barrel wherein the filler material is disposed in the housing void. The receiver plate and the receiver block can be are removable attached to a receiver. A gas port can be defined in the housing to transfer gas from an interior of the barrel to the piston chamber. A fastening means can extend through the receiver and into the receiving block to secure the housing to the receiver. A sling attachment point defined in the receiver plate. An end cap can be attached to the forward sleeve at a distal end.

The weapon system can include a housing having a housing bore configured to receive a barrel and configured to be attached to a receiver; a receiver plate attached to the housing; a forward sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receive the barrel; a forward void defined between the barrel and the forward sleeve; a rear sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receive the barrel; a rear void defined by the barrel and the rear sleeve; and, a filler material disposed in the forward void and the rear void.

The weapon system can include a housing having a housing bore configured to receive a barrel; a piston chamber attached to the housing and configured to receive a gas piston and gas from an interior of the barrel; a receiver plate attached to the housing; a sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receive the barrel; a void defined between the barrel and the sleeve; and, a filler material disposed in the void. A receiver block can be attached to the housing configured to be removably attached to a receiver. The sleeve can be disposed between the housing and a barrel locking collar attached to the barrel or between the housing and a muzzle end of the barrel. An end cap affixed to a distal end of the sleeve. An outer edge of the receiver plate that extends into a receiver when the receiver plate is received into the receiver.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side view of the prior art;

FIG. 1B is a cutaway view if the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of components of the invention;

FIG. 4A is a side view of components of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a side view of components of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of components of the invention; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of components of the invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can meet certain other objectives. Each objective may not apply equally, in all its respects, to every aspect of this invention. As such, the preceding objects can be viewed in the alternative with respect to any one aspect of this invention. These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures and examples. However, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are of a preferred embodiment and not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention. In particular, while the invention is described herein with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative of the invention and is not constructed as limiting of the invention. Various modifications and applications may occur to those who are skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as described by the appended claims. Likewise, other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the summary and certain embodiments described below, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above in conjunction with the accompanying examples, data, figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn there from, alone or with consideration of any references incorporated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1A a popular short stroke piston reloading weapon 10 using a piston assembly to cycle the action. A traditional gas block 12 is shown received over the barrel 14 so that gas from the bore of the barrel enters the traditional gas block and forces the piston rearward to cycle the action. This has disadvantages in that the force of the gas into the traditional gas block and the movement of the piston affect the barrel and can reduce accuracy. Referring to FIG. 1B, the traditional gas block receives gas from the barrel through port 16 which is then transferred to a chamber 18 that also receives the piston 20. Gas in the chamber forces the piston rearward in direction 22 which cycles the action, ejecting a spend cartridge and placing a new cartridge in the chamber. When the piston is moved by the gas, a force is placed on the barrel which can increase the effect of barrel whip which then reduces accuracy and can reduce barrel life. It would be advantageous to have a system that would eliminate the effect on the barrel as well as improving accuracy for such a piston assembly. Further, the traditional front sling mount rests against the upper receiver and can be impacted by the movement of the gas block which can reduce accuracy. The front sling mount is integrated into the front receiver plate and attached with the receiver brace and block.

Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention is an integrated gas block having a housing 30. The housing includes a forward seating ring 32 and a rear seating ring 34. A bore is in the housing, the forward seating ring and the rear seating ring to receive a barrel. The seating rings can be operatively associated with the front and rear sleeves to facilitate a connection between the housing and the sleeves. The front sling mount and receiver plate 36 is affixed to the housing and piston chamber 38. A sling attachment point 37 can be included in the housing, and in one embodiment, defined in the receiver plate. The receiver block 40 can be affixed to the housing and can be secured to the receiver through block opening 42. A second block opening can be disposed on the opposite side of the receiver block (44 of FIG. 3). Gas from the internal area of the barrel can be directed through the housing an into the piston chamber to drive a piston. The housing can be secured to the barrel with a pin or screw that can be received into the housing pin opening 24 and extend into the barrel. A gas port in the housing that extends from the piston chamber to the barrel can be aligned with a gas opening in the barrel allowing gas to flow from the interior of the barrel into the housing.

Referring to FIG. 3, the receiver plate and receiver block are shown inserted into the receiver 45 reducing or preventing the traditional receiver plate and traditional gas block from becoming loose, overcoming a problem in the art. The rear seating ring can be inserted into the receiver. A rear sleeve can also be inserted in to the receiver. The barrel 46 can be inserted into the housing 30 so that the barrel extends through both ends of the housing with one end extending into the receiver. A front void 48 is defined between the housing and a front portion of the barrel. A front sleeve 50 can be attached to the housing 30 so that the front seating ring is inserted into the front sleeve and disposed between the front sleeve and the barrel. The front sleeve can extend adjacent to the gas block 52 of the housing. A forward face 54 defined in the housing can be adjacent to the rear edge of the front sleeve. A front seating edge 56 can be defined in the housing and adjacent to the front sleeve rearward edge. The front sleeve can be press fit to the housing, welded or otherwise affixed to the housing. Filler material can be placed in the front void and, in one embodiment, when cured or hardened, solidifies causing the barrel, front sleeve and filler material to form a solid assembly. In one embodiment, the filler material bonds the sleeve and the barrel together.

Referring to FIG. 4A and 4B, the housing 30 is shown with the front sleeve 50 attached to the housing with the forward seating ring 32 extended into the front sleeve from the housing. The barrel 46 extends from a barrel locking collar 58 through the housing 30 and can include a muzzle brake or end cap 60. The end cap can be threaded to accept various attachments including muzzle brakes, flash suppressors, suppresses or other end covers and attachments. The rear sleeve 62 is shown attached to the housing with the rear seating ring 34 inserted into the rear sleeve. A rear void 65 is defined between the barrel and the rear sleeve that can receive filler material. In one embodiment, the barrel locking collar can include a locking collar ring 67 that can be received in the rear sleeve. Locking collar ring 67 can be affixed to the barrel locking collar. When the piston is rearward, the force applied to the piston is no longer exclusively transferred to the barrel thereby improving accurate. Direct impingement disadvantageously effecting the barrel is minimized or eliminated resulting in improved accuracy. Additionally, the housing is secured to the receiver so that the impact of the traditional gas block to the receiver plate to the receiver is eliminated.

Referring to FIG. 5, the housing 30 is shown with the front sleeve removed. The rear sleeve is shown disposed within a lower cavity of the receiver so that there is no necessary modifications to the receiver to install the present invention. The receiver block 34, can attach to the housing and can be secured to the receiver such as with a screw that can extend through the receiver by an opening shown generally as 64 into the housing. The receiver plate 36 can be secured to the receiver through openings shown generally as 66. A lower rail 68 can be attached to the receiver 45 and the barrel locking collar 58. The traditional gas regulator 70 can be received in the housing and have at least a first position for normal operation and a second position to insure that there is no increase in the cyclic rate of fire when using a sound suppressor.

Referring to FIG. 6, the housing 30 is shown inserted into the receiver 72. A screw 74 can extend through the receiver and into the housing to secure the housing to the receiver. The receiver plate and receiver block that can be integrated in into the housing can be inserted in the front portion of the receiver so that the outer perimeter 76 of the receiver plate and/or block can be keyed to the inner edge 78 of the front portion of the receiver. With this configuration, the housing and therefore gas block, is secured to the receiver and not simply held by the barrel as in the prior art. The lower rail is shown attached to the housing and in one embodiment, the receiver block. The front sleeve is attached to the housing and extends forward toward the muzzle and away from the receiver.

The forward and/or rear sleeve and the outer boundary of the barrel define a forward and/or rear void. In one embodiment the sleeves are manufactured from stainless steel. The sleeves can also be manufactured from other metals, composite plastics, or a fibrous material sufficient to maintain its structure while being exposed to the heat and vibrations of a weapons system barrel. The sleeve can be generally circular or polygonic in shape.

In one embodiment, the sleeves are generally twice the diameter of the barrel. In one embodiment, the barrel is machined to reduce the diameter of the barrel prior to installing one or more sleeves. This allows for the use of a smaller diameter sleeve and assists with eliminating the need to modify the receiver. It should be noted that the sleeves need not be circular in shape and can be any shape including hexagon, oval, square and such.

After one or more sleeves are placed on the housing with the barrel received in the sleeves and housing, filler material can be placed in voids defined by the sleeves and the barrel. In one embodiment, the filler material is a hydraulic type cement that when mixed with water will harden rapidly to produce a permanent bond. The filler material can be applied in a semi-fluid state and poured between the sleeve and the barrel. In one embodiment the filler material is hydraulic cement comprising at least 50% calcium sulfate and 48% or less portland cement and may contain amorphous silica, alumina, limestone dust, clay, quartz, calcium hydroxide and calcium sulfo aluminate. In one embodiment the filler material is hydraulic cement comprising at least 90% calcium sulfate and 10% or less portland cement. The filler material can also be epoxy or resins that are able to withstand the heat generated from the firing of a barrel of a weapons system. In one embodiment, the filler material is mixed with metal shavings to enhance the filler materials ability to absorb and quickly dissipate heat from the barrel.

In one embodiment, a muzzle brake can be installed after the forward sleeve and filler material have been installed. In one embodiment, a weld-on end cap can be attached to the muzzle end of the forward sleeve. This weld-on end cap can be simply an end cap defining a center opening that is the same diameter of the bore of the barrel. The opening of the end cap can also be slightly larger than the barrel diameter. In one embodiment, the weld-on end cap has a threaded portion that can receive a corresponding threaded portion (not shown) of a muzzle brake, or other attachment to attach the muzzle brake or other attachment to the threaded end cap allowing for its attachment and removal without having to attach or remove the end cap.

In one embodiment, the barrel can be milled down to reduce its diameter thereby reducing the overall weight of the weapons system. The combination of filler material and sleeve are sufficient to reinforce the barrel following removal of excess diameter material.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weapon system comprising: a housing having a housing bore configured to receive a barrel and having a piston chamber configured to receive a gas piston; a receiver plate attached to the housing; a receiver block attached to the housing; a forward seating ring attached to the housing; a forward sleeve attached to the forward seating ring; a forward void defined between the barrel and the forward sleeve; a rear seating ring attached to the housing; a rear sleeve attached to the rear seating ring and disposed between the housing and a barrel locking collar; a rear void defined by the barrel and the rear sleeve; and, a filler material disposed in the forward void and the rear void.
 2. The weapon system of claim 1 including a housing void defined between the forward seating ring, the rear seating ring and the barrel wherein the filler material is disposed in the housing void.
 3. The weapon system of claim 1 wherein the receiver plate and the receiver block are removable attached to a receiver.
 4. The weapon system of claim 3 including a gas port defined in the housing to transfer gas from an interior of the barrel to the piston chamber.
 5. The weapon system of claim 4 including a fastening means extending through the receiver and into the receiving block to secure the housing to the receiver.
 6. The weapon system of claim 1 including a sling attachment point defined in the receiver plate.
 7. The weapon system of claim 1 including an end cap attached to the forward sleeve at a distal end.
 8. A weapon system comprising: a housing having a housing bore configured to receive a barrel and configured to be attached to a receiver; a receiver plate attached to the housing; a forward sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receive the barrel; a forward void defined between the barrel and the forward sleeve; a rear sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receive the barrel; a rear void defined by the barrel and the rear sleeve; and, a filler material disposed in the forward void and the rear void.
 9. The weapon system of claim 8 including a piston chamber included in the housing and configured to receive a gas piston.
 10. The weapon system of claim 8 including a receiver block attached to the housing and configured to attach to the receiver.
 11. The weapons system of claim 8 including a sling attachment point attached to the housing.
 12. The weapon system of claim 8 including a forward seating ring attached to the housing configured to receive the forward sleeve.
 13. The weapon system of claim 8 including a rear seating sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receiving the rear sleeve.
 14. A weapon system comprising: a housing having a housing bore configured to receive a barrel; a piston chamber attached to the housing and configured to receive a gas piston and gas from an interior of the barrel; a receiver plate attached to the housing; a sleeve attached to the housing and configured to receive the barrel; a void defined between the barrel and the sleeve; and, a filler material disposed in the void.
 15. The weapon system of claim 14 including a receiver block attached to the housing configured to be removably attached to a receiver.
 16. The weapon system of claim 14 wherein the sleeve is disposed between the housing and a barrel locking collar attached to the barrel.
 17. The weapon system of claim 14 including wherein the sleeve is disposed between the housing and a muzzle end of the barrel.
 18. The weapon system of claim 17 including an end cap affixed to a distal end of the sleeve.
 19. The weapon system of claim 14 including a seating ring configured to receive the sleeve.
 20. The weapon system of claim 14 including an outer edge of the receiver plate that extends into a receiver when the receiver plate is received into the receiver. 